Atheisms & Theologies - Interpretative Research Essays

Introduction

These are research papers aiming to make a contribution to the
scholarly community's attempts to construct a comprehensive
interpretation of varieties of atheism and theological responses to
atheism. The research essays have been
produced by Boston University graduate students.

Notes on Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil

By
Roy L. Smith

The author writes:
I here offer notes on Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil. My intention is
to carefully follow the main line of argumentation Nietzsche employs throughout
the text in order to assist readers in the difficult task of interpreting this
work. In order to avoid tangential rabbit trails I have skipped some sections,
such as Epigrams and Interludes which consists of brilliant aphorisms,
and the poetic Aftersong with which Nietzsche closes the book. These
notes are choppy and often include lengthy quotations, so as to offer more of
the author than of myself. Nietzsche integrates multiple trajectories that
address varying philosophers. Thus he is often arguing against many positions in
a given passage. As an explosion of napalm sends shard in every direction, so
Nietzsche writes. I have not traced each of these trajectories and their
targets. That would necessitate book length commentary. Because I firmly believe
that one should first hear and understand an author before making
determinations about the author’s claims, I have endeavored to follow the text
as closely as I am able, without adding anything of myself (though this is not
entirely possible). On occasions where I do insert my thought or quote Kaufmann,
I do so in brackets. Last, I wish to extend my deep gratitude to Dr. Wesley J.
Wildman (my mentor in writing, scholarship, and academic professionalism) for
the opportunity to share these notes.